He seemed so completely lost for a moment that it worried Amarissa. His gaze wasn't focused on her at all; it was as if he wasn't really see anything that was about him. It scared her for an instant. She was about to step in closer to him, to repeat his name, and press one hand to his cheek to see if that could rouse him from whatever - wherever - he was. But then, abruptly, James was looking over at her, as if he was waking up from a dream, and giving her some semblance of an answer. Amarissa studied him for a moment longer, trying not to let the worry she was feeling spread across her features. Was what had she just seen normal? She wasn't entirely sure.
"Why don't you sit down for a bit?" she suggested, looking him once over again.
She bent at the waist, and began to unlace the boots that she was wearing. Once those were set aside, she headed into the kitchen, barefoot. She glanced into the fridge, trying to figure out what she actually had that could be used to make something simple. Pausing for a moment, Amarissa sighed and then blew a strand of hair out of her face. Screw it. Sandwiches it would have to be. Anything that involved an oven or stove would take too long, and take too much work. She grabbed the bread.
"Just a check up," Amarissa returned easily. Nothing to get sorted out really. Just making sure that everything was still in proper working condition. She paused, just for a moment, wondering if she should ask or not. Then, "How are you?"
It encompassed so much. Such a question could be taken in so many ways; let James select the way he wanted to answer that, Amarissa figured. It was an invitation if James wanted to share, and if not, it was easy enough for him to use it to talk about something else.